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Thanks for the detailed answer. I was just wondering about the logistics. We always tip the porters for handling our luggage. Thanks again.

We are using the Princess transfers from the A/P to the ship. Will we still have to use the porters?

Duplicate by mistake

Although we are avid Princess cruisers we were on Holland America to Alaska last summer and you could read the NY Times for free on the internet (no log in required as with the Princess site). We are on the Jan. 13th to Hawaii and hoping that the same deal would be available since both lines are owned by Carnival. Does Princess do this?

If you just can't wait to see your ship, activities on board, just plain down to earth folks havin' fun just go to 'youtube.com' and in the search bar and put the name of your ship in. Lots of videos. Pretty neat.

Great - We have found this to be typical behavior on Princess's part over the years.

Does anyone know if Princess has any facilities for handling a dental problem? Not full services but something to tide you over to the next port.

Does Princess have ez check in San Francisco?

Thanks

Although I understand the points in question I would like to apologize the the poster and the forum for my response. The forum is a place to learn neat stuff about cruising and the great things it brings about. My response had no place here. Happy cruising and smooth seas.

Impressive

Really.

 

Thank you for that information which adds more power to the argument. I will take you at your word that our cruise fare only pays for the fuel.

 

Your comparison of cruise prices over the period 2005 to 2014 does not hold valid as there are many factors other than oil which affect market price, most notably supply and demand for the product and, in case you have not noticed we are just coming out of a severe recession which forced everyone, irrespective of their industry to respond to market pressures at a time when the industry was already committed to adding lots of capacity.

 

On the subject of bunker oil prices, check this out.

http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/oil-price-drops-on-oversupply.php

 

The article was written in October and states:

 

'In June of 2014 the Brent Crude Oil Price hit $115 per barrel and many oil market insiders were predicting higher prices. Other analyst however, called a peak, and their predictions proved to be correct. By the beginning of October 2014, the Index dropped to $95 and predictions of further falls down to $90 or even $80'

 

Since then, the cost of Brent Crude Oil has fallen to $68 per barrel, which represents a fall of 41% over the June Price.

 

Are you seriously trying to tell us that Princess are not benefitting from this fall in crude prices?

 

As you hark back to the days of 2005, you might be interested to note that the article also states that:

 

"Back in 2005, the US had to import 60 per cent of its supplies from abroad. That demand boosted the coffers of oil suppliers and made the control of major oil producing regions vital to US economic stability and so central to American foreign policy. By 2014, however, the USA only needs to import 30 per cent of its oil consumption"

 

Despite what you tell us about the price YOU are paying for bunker oil, the fact of the matter is that for most ships, since July 2014, the Bunker World Index, which for those who don't know, is the bunker oil equivalent of the Dow Index, has fallen from over 1400 to just 1000 and the dollar price of a metric ton of bunker oil, just since September, has fallen from $600 per metric ton to $430 per metric ton

 

http://www.tsacarriers.org/calc_bunker.html

 

Are you seriously saying that 'your ship' is still paying $700 per metric ton?

 

The stock market clearly does not think so as the drop in oil price has resulted in the Carnival share price going up from 2155p (on October 13th) to over 2800p (sorry, I'm in the UK and only see the LSE share price which is quoted in pounds). That is an increase of 30% in less than two months.

 

I also think that you are looking at the matter from one very narrow point of view. The concept of overhead contribution of apparently loss making aspects of a product line is one of the first lessons of any management accounting course and no sensible business model tries equate one element of revenue against one very specific element of cost. It cannot be done and, if you try, you can very easily end up destroying an otherwise profitable business.

 

I appreciate that you are 'the font of all knowledge' on these matters but are you seriously saying that if the price of bunker oil at the time the brochure was produced had been $68 and this had subsequently gone up by 70% to $115 then Princess would have eaten that increase.

This poster does not understand the economics of running a 'Capital Intensive' business.

First cruise - definitely use a travel agent that specializes in cruises. They will have all the information you need and will be able to answer your questions. Also will be savvy as to deals, promotions, perks, etc. We did our first cruise on our 25th and used a travel agent. Going on cruise number 59 for our 56th anniversary. You really have something to look forward to.

As others have said just show up. Sometimes, but not often, it can be a real zoo. Just go with the flow it's all part of cruising. $2/bag seems to work. Have a great cruise.

Just a note. You can just get an open booking. You can then use it to book a cruise at a later date either through Princess or your travel agent. That's what we do and it works great. And if for some reason you don't take a cruise (fat chance) they give you your money back.

I agree with all the posters that there are rude people on all cruises but one really has to hand it to the crew as o how they handle it. They certainly get my thanks.

Thanks for all the reply's. Although we are pretty dedicated Princess cruisers that year we booked a RCCL cruise from Hawaii to San Diego. We passed by the volcano about 10:50 in the evening. The lava was flowing into the water and causing quite a sight. The captain took the ship pretty close and 'backed' by it about 30 minutes each way. It was after the last stop in Hawaii on the way back to San Diego.

Good point. We do stop in Hilo first and then to Honolulu on the RT San Francisco cruise. Thanks.

For those that have taken a Hawaii cruise on Princess does the ship pass by the Volcano on the Big Island at night. A few years back we did it on Royal Caribbean at night and it was spectacular.

This happens and above all it is not the crews fault. To run 'downstairs' and report the crew members is in my opinion dumb. They have little control over what happens. More appropriate might be to say 'Wow that was something, I admire your patience'. Everyone wins.

I'm sure the new cruise line will welcome you with their rules and Princess will most certainly miss you. The first rule of cruising is to be flexible and laid back. Things happen.

On the other hand, if enough people are on the wait list they will probably just add another group. I would guess that this would be the most likely case.

Good luck

Yesterday I faxed the Princess form and brokerage info to Princess and by the time I got home it was already applied (about a half hour!). Wow. $250 for our Jan 13th Hawaii cruise. That's a lot of beer;-).

That's the Princess we know.

I agree that the overall view from the public decks is the way to go but you will go through 6 locks. If you have a balcony you should view one or two locks from there as it is a little more 'close up' experience. Whatever you decide you cannot go wrong. It's an incredible operation. Also remember that the new wider locks will be open that should be in view. I would imagine that Princess will use the 105' wide locks. Enjoy.